Theater, music and visual arts take center stage at the YMCA in Hanover

There’s something unusual and exciting happening at the Emilson South Shore YMCA in Hanover. The arts are taking center stage thanks to the completion of Laura’s Center for the Arts.

By Jody Feinberg

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jody Feinberg

Posted Aug. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 20, 2013 at 8:08 PM

By Jody Feinberg

Posted Aug. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 20, 2013 at 8:08 PM

HANOVER

» Social News

There’s something unusual and exciting happening at the Emilson South Shore YMCA in Hanover. The arts are taking center stage thanks to the completion of Laura’s Center for the Arts.

“It’s very rare for a YMCA to have this focus on the arts. I think we may be the only one,” said Emilson YMCA executive director Becky Dowd. “We are reaching out to people in the community to use this wonderful building.”

During the day, hundreds of campers expressed their creativity in 10 new arts camps offered for the first time, now that the building has bathrooms, air conditioning and interior finishing. The summer will close this weekend with a full-scale production of the musical “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”

“A lot of people don’t realize Laura’s Center has changed from when it looked more like a garage,” said Kimberly LaCroix, senior director of fine and performing arts at the Emilson South Shore YMCA. “Now, it’s a great space that integrates the arts.”

Although the center officially opened in 2010, only the outdoor stage and amphitheater could be used until the interior completion last January.

From the outside, the handsome building resembles a multi-purpose pavilion, with a flat roof extension over the outdoor stage. Inside, there’s a large stage, whose back wall of windows can be open to the outdoors and hidden behind a black curtain. The open floor in front of the stage is bordered by dance and art studios with multiple windows. The interior feels welcoming and comfortable because of the wood in the ceiling and walls and the visibility facilitated by the glass walls.

It is named in honor of Laura Emilson Riekert, who had a passion for teaching tennis to special needs children at the YMCA and who died at age 54 in 2011. Her parents, Herb and Pollie Emilson, donated $3 million to build the pavilion.

Increasingly, people and organizations are taking advantage of the opportunities within the center. A family art festival and art auction took place Thursday to benefit Cardinal Cushing Centers, Friendship Home and The South Shore YMCA, and the Friends of Hanover Music will host a benefit there during the school year. Staff also are building collaborations with the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club. The art gallery is fully booked through next June.

“We want to celebrate the arts,” LaCroix said. “And we want people on the South Shore to see this as their arts center.”

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